Council says LGBTIQ are 'Welcome Here'

Tuesday, 26 February 2019

Inner West Council is an official participant in ACON’s Welcome Here project, which supports businesses and organisations to be visibly welcoming and inclusive of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) communities.

There is no joining fee. To register, businesses and organisations need to:

• Display the Welcome Here sticker and charter at each nominated site, continuously in highly visible places

• Pledge that LGBTIQ customers/clients/patrons will be welcomed, included, and treated with respect and dignity every time they visit

• Conduct a staff ACON survey to assess staff levels of understanding and experience of being welcoming and inclusive of diversity

• Complete an online survey each year for project evaluation

• Celebrate 15 Diversity Days per annum www.welcomehere.org.au/diversitydays with ACON-provided resources including posters and social media

• Provide LGBTIQ diversity inclusion training to staff to be able to join the project with integrity

Registered ‘Welcoming Places’ receive a sticker to display in their window, which lets everyone know that LGBTIQ diversity is welcomed and celebrated within their business.

“Inner West Council is committed to promoting acceptance and celebrating diversity. While we believe all Inner West businesses and organisations should be discrimination free, this is a highly visible way to make our LGBTIQ community feel more comfortable and safe," said Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne.

“This program will help everyone to patronise businesses that are out and proud in their support of LGBTIQ people,” Mayor Byrne said.

ACON CEO, Nicolas Parkhill, said the Welcome Here project is all about fostering spaces that are welcoming of LGBTIQ people.

“We know that environments that celebrate diversity help strengthen the health and wellbeing of our communities,” he said.

“ACON warmly welcomes Inner West Council to the Welcome Here project. Registered venues and facilities that proudly display the Welcome Here sticker and charter send a strong message of inclusion to LGBTI people and the broader community.

“We encourage businesses, services and organisations, including other local councils, to demonstrate their support for their LGBTIQ residents, celebrate diversity and foster safe and supportive environments by getting involved in the Welcome Here project,” Mr Parkhill said.

More about the program is available at www.welcomehere.org.au

For media enquiries, contact Elizabeth Heath | Media and Communications Coordinator P: +61 2 9392 5334 | E: elizabeth.heath@innerwest.nsw.gov.au